New Language Policy to Preserve Aboriginal Culture (fwd)

[phil cash cash]

NEW LANGUAGE POLICY TO PRESERVE ABORIGINAL CULTURE
http://media-newswire.com/release_1046321.html

The Bracks Government today invested $10,000 in a new strategy to revive
Victorias Indigenous languages, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Gavin
Jennings announced today. Mr Jennings said the new approach would help
revitalise Victorias traditional languages, which was a significant
aspect of preserving Indigenous culture.

(Media-Newswire.com) - The Bracks Government today invested $10,000 in a
new strategy to revive Victorias Indigenous languages, Minister for
Aboriginal Affairs, Gavin Jennings announced today.

Mr Jennings said the new approach would help revitalise Victorias
traditional languages, which was a significant aspect of preserving
Indigenous culture.

Aboriginal cultural heritage is about language, stories and traditions
as well as land and objects, Mr Jennings said.

There used to be 40 separate Indigenous languages and many Aboriginal
people spoke four or five different languages.

These languages are not spoken anywhere else in the world, making them a
unique part of our cultural heritage and we should not let them die out.

Mr Jennings said Victorian Aboriginal Corporations for Languages ( VACL
) and the Federation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages
( FATSIL ) will now develop a new policy on Indigenous Languages.

The Bracks Government has provided $10,000 to help VACL run a two-day
workshop, bringing together experts in this area, he said.

This workshop will produce recommendations for a draft policy to be
prepared for consultation with the community and State Government.

This important area of work will help Indigenous Victorians reconnect to
their past and celebrate their culture.

Chairperson of VACL, John Atkinson, said the policy would aim to make
Indigenous language education more accessible to the Aboriginal
community.

Language contributes to the wellbeing of Aboriginal communities,
strengthens ties between elders and young people and improves education
in general for Indigenous people of all ages, Mr Atkinson said.

Representatives from VACL, FATSIL, the Aboriginal community, State
Government and the New Zealand Maori Language Commission attended the
workshop.

Mr Jennings congratulated FATSIL for contributing $34,000 to the
project.